Favourite true to name with gongs

OLIVIA Colman was queen of the Baftas as The Favourite scored seven prizes at the glittering ceremony.

The Broadchurch star beat Glenn Close, Lady Gaga, Melissa McCarthy and Viola Davis to win the leading actress prize for her turn as a cantankerous Queen Anne in the spiky period drama.

The movie was also named outstanding British film, with Rachel Weisz taking the best supporting actress prize, beating her co-star Emma Stone in the category.

The film had led the nominations ahead of the ceremony, with 12 nods.

Roma, Alfonso Cuaron’s black-andwhite film about his childhood in Mexico City, was named best film and best film not in the English language, while he was also named best cinematographer.

Taking to the stage after her name was called, Colman admitted: “I’m very shaky, sorry”, and told the crowd she could not read her notes, before adding she thanked “all the producers, obvs”.

Speaking about her co-stars Weisz and Stone, Colman said: “As far as I’m concerned all three of us are the same and should be the leads and it’s weird we can’t do that. This is for all three of us. It’s got my name on it but we can scratch on some other ones.”

The film also received accolades for its costume design, production design, make-up and hair, as well as for its original screenplay.

Rami Malek scooped the leading actor category for his turn as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, while Mahershala Ali was named best director and supporting actor for Green Book, beating British favourite Richard E Grant in Can You Ever Forgive Me?

There was also success for British actress and Black Panther star Letitia Wright, who won the EE Rising Star award.

A Star Is Born won for its original music, with the film’s writer, director, star and composer Bradley Cooper collecting the prize. He thanked his co-star and fellow composer Lady Gaga and the other musicians who helped with the film soundtrack.

The animation category was won by Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, while Free Solo, a film about the first person to climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without ropes, was named best documentary.

Film editor Thelma Schoonmaker received the Fellowship, the Academy’s highest honour.

Olivia Colman won best actress and, inset, Rachel Weisz, who took home the best supporting actress gong